My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Phils spilt the doubleheader as they are shut out in the nightcap, losing to the Marlins, 3-0.

The Phils lose the second game of the doubleheader as they are two-hit by the Marlins, as they lose to the fish, 3-0. Their magic number to win the division remains at five.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the second as Dan Uggla hits a lead-off home run, his thirtieth home run of the season. The Marlins would make it 2-0 in the fourth as, with two men out, Cody Ross hits a solo home run, his twenty-third home run of the year. The Marlins added to their lead in the fifth as, with one man on, and with one out, Hanley Ramirez hits an RBI double, knocking in Cameron Maybin, who was earlier safe on a force out, 6-4, as Chris Coghlan, who had earlier singled, was out at second base, giving the Marlins a 3-0 lead. That would be all the runs that the fish would need as their starter, Anibal Sanchez, two-hit the Phils for eight innings, allowing only four Phils to reach base, before Leo Nunez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, collecting his twenty-fourth save of the year.

Jamie Moyer took the lost as he pitched seven innings, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out five. His record is now 12-10 with a 5.00 ERA. Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless ninth, giving up a hit and a walk, while striking out two. Anibal Sanchez got the win as he pitched eight shut out innings, giving up just two hits and two walks, while striking out seven. His record is now 3-7 with a 4.01 ERA. Leo Nunez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, collecting his twenty-four save of the season.

The Phils had only two hits in the ballgame, a single and a double by Chase Utley, who raised his batting average to .295. Jimmy Rollins and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs were the only other Phils to reach base, both by walks, as the Phils’ offense was muzzle in the second game by Marlins’ pitching.

The Phillies (88-62, 1st) will conclude their three-games series with the Marlins (81-71, 3rd) tonight with a night game. The game will be played at Land Shark Park and will start at 7:10 pm Eastern. The Phils will send to the mound Cole Hamels (10-9, 4.07), who is coming off a win against the Nationals on September 17, as he pitched eight strong innings, giving up just a run on five hits and a walk, while striking out ten, in the Phils’ 4-2 win. He will be trying to continue his hot month. The Marlins will oppose him with Rick VandenHurk (2-2, 4.24), who is coming off a no-decision against the Reds on September 18, as he went six innings, giving up a run on four hits and two walks, while striking out three, in the Marlins’ 4-3 win. He will be trying to keep the Marlins’ playoff hopes alive a little bit longer. The Phils will be trying to win the series while at the same time putting another nail imto the coffin of the Marlins’ playoff hopes.

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.